Surgical contact lens for ophthalmic treatment

Abstract

A lens holder for ophthalmic procedures is provided. The lens holder includes a rim configured to hold a lens and a flange coupled to the rim, the flange including a first surface configured to be disposed on the ocular surface of an eye and an opposite second surface. The flange includes one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flange, the one or more conjunctiva capture features being configured to be locked to one or more portions of the conjunctiva of the eye.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Surgical contact lenses can be placed on a patient's eye during an ophthalmic surgical procedure at the back of the eye to enable viewing of the patient's retina (e.g., the peripheral retina) during the procedure. An issue with the use of surgical contact lenses is maintaining the position of the surgical contact lens on the patient's eye during the procedure. One solution is to have an assistant manually hold the position of the surgical contact lens during the procedure. With this solution, the assistant needs to be highly trained. Furthermore, changing the position of the surgical contact lens by the assistant slows down the performance of the procedure. Another solution is to suture a portion of the surgical contact lens to the patient's eye. With this solution, the position of the surgical contact lens can be well maintained on the patient's eye, but even a small suture damages the patient's eye, so a less invasive process for maintaining the position of the surgical contact lens on the patient's eye is beneficial.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0002] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved surgical contact lens and related methods for maintaining the position of the surgical contact lens on a patient's eye.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] In certain embodiments, a lens holder for an ophthalmic procedure is provided. The lens holder includes a rim configured to hold a lens and a flange coupled to the rim, the flange including a first surface configured to be disposed on the ocular surface of the eye and an opposite second surface. The flange includes one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flange, the one or more conjunctiva capture features being configured to lock onto one or more portions of the conjunctiva of the eye.

[0004] In certain embodiments, a surgical contact lens for ophthalmic procedures is provided. The surgical contact lens includes a rim, a lens disposed within the rim, and a flange coupled to the rim and including a first surface configured to be disposed on an ocular surface of an eye and an opposite second surface. The flange includes one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flange, and the one or more conjunctiva capture features are configured to engage one or more portions of the conjunctiva of the eye.

[0005] In certain embodiments, a method of securing a contact lens holder to an eye is provided. The method includes disposing a lens holder on an ocular surface of the eye, the lens holder including a first surface opposite a second surface that contacts the eye and one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface, and drawing one or more portions of the conjunctiva into at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features.

[0006] To better understand the above features of the present disclosure, a more specific description of the present disclosure, briefly summarized above, can be obtained by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are not to be considered limiting of the scope of the invention, and other equally effective embodiments are possible.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 1C

Figure 1D

Figure 1E

Figure 1F

Figure 2

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For ease of understanding, where possible, the same elements common to each figure are designated with the same reference numerals. It is contemplated that the elements and features of one embodiment can be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments without further mention.

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a surgical contact lens including a lens holder and a lens, and related methods of using the surgical contact lens. As used herein, a surgical contact lens refers to an optical device including a lens holder and a lens (i.e., a transparent optical component configured to focus or disperse light) disposed within the lens holder.

[0010] The disclosed surgical contact lens includes a lens holder having one or more conjunctiva capture features (e.g., slots or apertures). When the lens holder is placed on a patient's eye during an ophthalmic procedure, one or more portions of the patient's eye's conjunctiva can be moved (e.g., drawn) into or through one or more conjunctiva capture features on the lens holder. By moving each portion of the conjunctiva into or through each of the one or more conjunctiva capture features of the lens holder, the corresponding portion of the conjunctiva is locked to the lens holder of the surgical contact lens, which helps to fix and maintain the position of the surgical contact lens on the eye during the procedure. After the procedure is completed, a portion of the conjunctiva is removed from the conjunctiva capture feature, and the surgical contact lens is removed from the patient's eye. Thus, the disclosed surgical contact lens makes it possible to maintain the position of the surgical contact lens during the procedure without using an assistant or more invasive procedures such as suturing the surgical contact lens to the patient's eye.

[0011] Further, the disclosed lens holder is configured to hold one of several different lenses while the lens holder is locked to the patient's eye, thereby allowing different observation fields of view of the patient's eye without repositioning the lens holder on the patient's eye. For example, while the lens holder is locked by one or more portions of the conjunctiva, the first lens within the lens holder can be exchanged for the second lens within the lens holder, allowing different observation fields of view of the patient's eye without repositioning the lens holder on the patient's eye.

[0012] FIG. 1A shows a lens holder 101 for a surgical contact lens according to a particular embodiment. As described below with reference to FIG. 1B, the lens holder 101 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) is used as part of a surgical contact lens 100 (see FIG. 1B). To view the patient's eye during the procedure, the lens holder 101 can be used as part of the surgical contact lens 100 to hold a lens such as the lens 150 shown in FIG. 1B. In a particular embodiment, the lens 150 can be referred to as a macular lens for viewing the central region of the retina.

[0013] The lens holder 101 includes a rim 110 and a flange 120 that is connected to the rim 110 and disposed around the rim 110. The flange 120 extends outwardly from the rim 110. In certain embodiments, the height (“H”) of the flange 120 can be 3 to 4 millimeters (mm). In certain embodiments, the width (“W”) of the rim 110 can be 1 to 2 mm. During an eye treatment, the lower surface 121 of the flange 120 is configured to be disposed on the patient's eye. In certain embodiments, the flange 120 is made flexible, for example, to conform to the somewhat irregular surface of the conjunctiva. Since the eye deforms when the surgeon moves it in various directions to view the peripheral retina and to work using various instruments, the flexibility of the flange 120 allows the flange 120 to maintain its position over the eye. The rim 110 surrounds the internal opening 105 of the lens holder 101. When a lens is disposed within the lens holder 101, the internal opening 105 allows the patient's eye to be viewed during the treatment.

[0014] The rim 110 includes an inner surface 111, an outer surface 112, and a top surface 113 that connects the inner surface 111 and the outer surface 112. The top surface 113 of the rim 110 includes one or more recesses 114. Within the recess 114, the top surface 113 of the rim 110 can extend downward toward the flange 120. When a lens (e.g., the lens 150 of FIG. 1B) is disposed within the lens holder 101, the extension of the recess 114 toward the flange 120 enables the lens to be easily inserted into and removed from the lens holder 101. For example, when a lens (e.g., the lens 150 of FIG. 1B) is disposed within the lens holder 101, the recess 114 allows a part of the lens to be exposed, thereby enabling a surgical instrument such as forceps to grasp the exposed portion or edge of the lens and remove the lens. Similarly, the recess 114 provides an opening for more effectively disposing and centrally positioning the lens in the lens holder 101 with forceps, so that the lens can be more easily disposed in the lens holder 101. The shape of the recess 114 in FIG. 1A is merely an example of how the recess 114 can be provided in the rim 110, and it should be noted that the recess can have various shapes (e.g., a U-shape, a semi-circle, a V-shaped groove, etc.). Further, although only two recesses 114 are shown in FIG. 1A, fewer or more recesses 114 are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] The flange 120 can include a base 125 (also referred to as a ring portion) and a plurality of tabs 130 connected to the base 125. The base 125 of the flange 120 can be connected to the rim 110. The plurality of tabs 130 can extend outwardly from the outer edge 128 of the base 125. The length of each tab 130 measured from the edge of the flange 120 is about 1-2 mm. Each of the plurality of tabs 130 can include a lower surface 131, an upper surface 132, and a side surface 133 that connects the lower surface 131 and the upper surface 132. The lower surface 121 of the flange 120 including the lower surface 131 of the tab 130 is configured to contact the patient's eye during the procedure. The lower surface 121 of the flange 120 can have a curvature corresponding to (1) the average corneal curvature, (2) the corneal curvature of a specific patient, or (3) the average corneal curvature related to a group of patients.

[0016] Each tab 130 can include a slot 135 or other conjunctiva capture feature configured to hold a portion of the conjunctiva as will be described in more detail below. In FIG. 1A, the slot 135 is shown as a V-shaped slot, but any conjunctiva capture feature configured to capture and hold (e.g., clamp, lock, maintain, etc.) the conjunctiva can be used. As shown, the slot 135 can extend from the bottom surface 131 to the top surface 132. Further, the slot 135 can extend to the side surface 133. In one embodiment, a portion of the conjunctiva can be lifted above the top surface 132 of one of the tabs 130, for example using a syringe or micro forceps, and then a portion of the conjunctiva can be placed within the slot 135 of that tab 130. Once placed within the slot 135, the portion of the conjunctiva is held in place by the slot 135.

[0017] The flange 120 can further include a recessed portion 126 between each adjacent pair of tabs 130. The recessed portion 126 can be used to allow access to the patient's eye during the procedure, for example, to allow insertion of a surgical instrument (e.g., a trocar cannula) into the patient's eye during the procedure. Note that the shape of the recess 114 in FIG. 1A is exemplary, and the recess 114 can have different shapes in different embodiments. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1B, the recess 114 is U-shaped.

[0018] FIG. 1B shows a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary surgical contact lens 100 disposed on an eye 50, according to a particular embodiment. The surgical contact lens 100 includes the lens holder 101 described above with reference to FIG. 1A and a lens 150 disposed within the lens holder 101. The view of FIG. 1B can be taken along a cross-section extending through the first tab 1301 and the second tab 1302 of the lens holder 101 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The surgical contact lens 100 including the lens 150 can be used to view the interior of a patient's eye 50 (e.g., the central portion of the retina) during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. As will be further described below, the lens 150 is removable and replaceable. For example, to view the peripheral portion of the retina, the surgeon may remove the lens 150 and replace it with the wide-angle lens 160 shown in FIG. 1D.

[0019] In FIG. 1B, the gap (e.g., gap 118) shown between the inner surface 111 of FIG. 1B and the side surface 153 of the lens 150 is for indicating that the lens 150 and the lens holder 101 are separate components. Thus, in a particular embodiment, the size of such a gap may be larger or smaller than this, and such a gap is shown for illustrative purposes only. Further, in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the lens holder 101 and any lens disposed within the lens holder 101 are separate components, but in certain other embodiments, the lens may be fixed to the lens holder 101 or permanently disposed within and coupled to the lens holder 101.

[0020] FIG. 1C shows a side view of a lens 150, according to a particular embodiment. The lens 150 can be disposed within the lens holder 101 as shown in FIG. 1B. The lens 150 includes a bottom surface 151, a top surface 152, and a side surface 153 connecting the bottom surface 151 and the top surface 152. The bottom surface 151 can have a curvature configured to conform to an average corneal curvature, the corneal curvature of a particular patient, or an average corneal curvature associated with a group of patients (e.g., pediatric patients of a particular age). The top surface 152 of the lens can connect to the side surface 153 at an edge 154.

[0021] The bottom surface 151 of the lens 150 can contact the eye 50 during the procedure. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the bottom surface 151 of the lens 150 can contact the cornea 51 of the eye 50. The conjunctiva 55 of the patient's eye begins where the cornea 51 ends. The conjunctiva 55 is located on the sclera 52 of the eye 50. The conjunctiva 55 is also connected to the eyelids (not shown for ease of explanation). The conjunctiva 55 is a thin tissue of the eye 50 having a thickness of about 10 microns to about 50 microns, for example about 30 microns.

[0022] A part of the conjunctiva 55 can be flexible. This flexibility can minimize damage to the patient when the conjunctiva 55 is used to fix the surgical contact lens 100 in a predetermined position. Moving a part of the conjunctiva 55 into the slot 135 of the tab 130 of the lens holder 101 can assist in holding the surgical contact lens 100 in a predetermined position during the procedure. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the first portion 551 of the conjunctiva 55 is disposed in the first slot 1351 of the first tab 1301, and the second portion 552 of the conjunctiva 55 is disposed in the second slot 1352 of the second tab 1302.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved into the slot 135 by pushing or inserting this portion into the slot 135 from the side surface 133 of the corresponding tab 130. For example, in one embodiment, a micro forceps can be used to grasp a portion of the conjunctiva 55 near the tab 130, and the micro forceps and the upper portion of the portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved above the upper surface 132 (shown in FIG. 1E) of the corresponding tab 130, and then a portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be drawn into the slot 135 toward the rim 110. In certain embodiments, the width of the slot 135 can be made narrower than the width of the portion of the conjunctiva 55 to be moved into the slot 135, facilitating the slot 135 to hold a portion of the conjunctiva 55. In some embodiments, the width of the slot 135 can be from about 5 microns to about 100 microns. Although not shown, in some embodiments, the opposing portions of the slot 135, such as the side walls 136, 137 shown in FIG. 1E, can be configured to contact each other when the slot 135 is empty (e.g., before the conjunctiva 55 is disposed in the slot 135). In other words, the slot 135 can be in the form of a slit rather than a triangular or V-shaped opening.

[0024] FIG. 1D shows a side view of a wide-angle lens 160 according to a particular embodiment. The wide-angle lens 160 can be used to view different parts of a patient's eye (e.g., the peripheral retina) compared to the lens 150. The lens 160 includes a bottom surface 161 and a side surface 163. The bottom surface 161 can have a curvature configured to conform to the average corneal curvature, the corneal curvature of a particular patient, or the average corneal curvature associated with a group of patients. During some procedures, while the lens holder 101 remains held on the patient's eye 50, the lens 150 can be exchanged with the wide-angle lens 160 or vice versa using the conjunctiva 55 disposed in the slot 135 as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0025] FIG. 1E shows an enlarged view of the tab 130 shown in portion 1E of FIG. 1A according to a particular embodiment. The tab 130 includes the slot 135 described above. The slot 135 extends to the side surface 133 of the tab 130. The slot 135 is defined by opposing side walls 136, 137. Each side wall 136, 137 of the slot 135 extends from the lower surface 131 to the upper surface 132 of the tab 130. The width of the slot 135 can become narrower as the distance from the side surface 133 of the tab 130 within the slot 135 increases. This narrowing of the slot 135 can assist in fixing a portion of the conjunctiva 55 within the slot 135. For example, the deeper a portion of the conjunctiva 55 is drawn into the slot 135, the more secure the connection between the slot 135 and the portion of the conjunctiva 55 becomes (e.g., the deeper this portion is drawn into the slot 135, the more pressure the side walls 136, 137 of the slot 135 exert on the portion of the conjunctiva 55). In a particular embodiment, the length of each side wall 136, 137 is about 1 mm (e.g., in the range of 0.7 - 1.3 mm).

[0026] FIG. 1F shows an enlarged view of an alternative tab 130A according to a particular embodiment. In addition to or instead of the tab 130 described above, the alternative tab 130A can be used in the lens holder 101. The tab 130A is the same as the tab 130 described above with reference to FIG. 1E, except that the tab 130A includes a different conjunctiva capture feature for fixing the conjunctiva 55 instead of the slot 135. The tab 130A includes an opening 135A that extends from the lower surface 131 to the upper surface 132 of the tab 130A. The opening 135A is provided in a gap or region between a plurality of triangular extensions 146. If there are five triangular extensions 146 as shown in FIG. 1F, the opening 135A can have a narrow star shape. However, fewer or more triangular extensions can be used. As an example, in a particular embodiment, three, four, six, or more triangular extensions 146 can be used. In such embodiments, the opening between the triangular extensions may have a shape similar to or different from a star shape.

[0027] In the embodiment of FIG. 1F, the opening 135A includes a central portion 134 and a plurality of constricted portions 139. Each constricted portion 139 is provided between each set of adjacent triangular extensions 146. Each of the plurality of constricted portions 139 can become narrower as the distance from the central portion 134 increases. Each constricted portion 139 corresponds to an acute angle provided between each set of adjacent triangular extensions 146, which may be larger or smaller than those shown in FIG. 1F. Further, in certain embodiments, the acute angle between each set of adjacent triangular extensions 146 can be minimized such that the sides of the extensions 146 of each triangle touch or substantially touch the corresponding sides of the extensions 146 of adjacent triangles. In such embodiments, the tips of the extensions 146 of each triangle may also touch or substantially touch the tips of the extensions 146 of other triangles.

[0028] During the procedure, a tool (e.g., microforceps or a syringe) can be inserted through the central portion 134, and a portion of the conjunctiva can be pulled up (e.g., in the proximal direction) through the opening 135A. In some examples, it may be useful to move a portion of the conjunctiva 55 to one of the constricted portions 139. However, in other examples, a portion of the conjunctiva 55 may be thick enough to be fixed (e.g., between the tips of the triangular extensions 146) after a portion of the conjunctiva 55 has been pulled through the opening 135A without any additional manipulation.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary process flow diagram of a method 1000 of using the lens holder 101 shown in FIG. 1A according to a particular embodiment.

[0030] In block 1002, the lens holder 101 is placed on the ocular surface of the patient's eye 50 (e.g., by a surgeon). Thereafter, a lens such as lens 150 can be placed within the lens holder 101 such that the bottom surface 151 of the lens 150 contacts the cornea 51 of the eye 50. In some embodiments, a portion of the lower surface 121 of the flange 120 can contact a portion of the cornea 51, sclera 52, and conjunctiva 55. In some embodiments, a viscoelastic fluid can be applied between the bottom surface 151 of the lens 150 and / or the flange 120 and the surface of the eye 50. The lens holder 101 can be moved over the eye 50 until the target position of the lens holder 101 is achieved over the eye 50.

[0031] In block 1004, at least a portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved (e.g., drawn) into the conjunctiva capture feature of the lens holder 101. As described above, the conjunctiva capture feature can take the form of a slot, an opening, or other forms. The method 1000 of FIG. 2 is described with reference to a conjunctiva capture feature in the form of a slot such as slot 135 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. However, the lens holder 101 may alternatively or additionally include other types of conjunctiva capture features (e.g., opening 135A), in which case the operation of block 1004 can be similarly applied.

[0032] Generally, to assist in holding the lens holder 101 in a predetermined position, multiple portions of the conjunctiva 55 are moved into separate slots 135 of separate tabs 130. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, a first portion 551 of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved into a first slot 1351 of a first tab 1301, and a second portion 552 of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved into a second slot 1352 of a second tab 1302. In some embodiments, separate portions of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved into each slot 135 of the lens holder 101. Further, in some embodiments, two or more portions of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved into a single slot 135 of the lens holder 101.

[0033] Using various techniques, the conjunctiva 55 can be moved into the slot 135. In some embodiments, a micro forceps, syringe, or another tool can be used to grasp a portion of the conjunctiva 55 near the tab 130, and then the tool and the upper portion of the portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be moved (e.g., pulled) above the upper surface 132 of the corresponding tab 130, and the portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be drawn into the slot 135 to a sufficient depth such as a depth at which the portion of the conjunctiva 55 is properly held within the slot 135. After the portion of the conjunctiva 55 is disposed to be held within the slot 135, the portion of the conjunctiva 55 can be released by a tool (e.g., micro forceps).

[0034] In block 1006, a surgical contact lens 100 including a lens holder 101 and a lens 150 is used, and a first part of the treatment is performed on the patient. The treatment can vary from an examination of the eye 50 through the lens 150 to a surgical treatment performed on the eye 50 assisted by looking at the eye 50 through the lens 150. The conjunctiva 55 held within one or more slots 135 can assist in maintaining the position of the lens holder 101 during the first part of the treatment.

[0035] In block 1008, the lens 150 is replaced with a wide-angle lens 160 to enable viewing of the eye 50 with the wide-angle lens 160. In some embodiments, a tool (e.g., forceps) can be used to grasp the lens 150 and remove the lens 150 from the lens holder 101. In some of these embodiments, the lens 150 is grasped around the edge 154 by accessing the edge 154, for example, through one of the recesses 114 in the rim 110 of the lens holder 101.

[0036] After removing the lens 150, the wide-angle lens 160 can be placed within the lens holder 101 using the same process as removing the lens 150 from the lens holder 101. For example, the lens 160 can be grasped on its side using, for example, forceps and placed within the lens holder 101. In some embodiments, while placing the lens 160 within the lens holder 101, the tip of the forceps can be aligned with the recess 114, enabling the lens 160 to be fully placed and fixed within the lens holder 101 without the tip of the forceps colliding with the rim 110.

[0037] In block 1010, a surgical contact lens including the lens holder 101 and the wide-angle lens 160 is used, and the second part of the treatment is performed on the patient. The second treatment can vary from an examination of the eye 50 through the wide-angle lens 160 to a surgical procedure performed on the eye 50 assisted by looking through the wide-angle lens 160 at the eye 50. The conjunctiva 55 held within one or more slots 135 can assist in maintaining the position of the surgical contact lens 100 during the second part of the treatment.

[0038] In block 1012, each portion of the conjunctiva 55 disposed in one of the slots 135 can be removed from the corresponding slot 135. For example, the upper part of each portion of the conjunctiva can be grasped with a tool (such as micro forceps) and removed (such as pulled out) from the corresponding slot 135. After each portion of the conjunctiva 55 disposed in the slot 135 has been removed from the corresponding slot 135, the surgical contact lens including the lens holder 101 and the wide-angle lens 160 can then be removed from the ocular surface of the patient's eye 50.

[0039] The above disclosure is directed to fixing a lens holder of a surgical contact lens to the eye by moving a portion of the conjunctiva into a slot of the lens holder, but the disclosure can be directed to fixing any device or component to the eye in a similar manner. Further, the disclosure of moving the conjunctiva into the narrow slot of a tab of the lens holder (e.g., slot 135 of FIG. 1A) is only one way that the conjunctiva can be fixed to a device or component, and many other techniques are envisioned. For example, alternative lens holders can include one or more pinch-open mechanisms (e.g., one mechanism for each tab) that can grasp the conjunctiva after the mechanism is pinched and then released. In certain embodiments, the pinch-open feature can each include a portion on the upper surface of the tab (e.g., similar to tab 130) that can pinch open or spread an opposing member of the mechanism on the lower surface of the tab. When the portion on the upper surface is released from being pinched, the opposing member on the lower surface can return to a closed position. As the opposing member returns to the closed position, the conjunctiva can be grasped by the opposing member, sandwiched between the opposing members, and the lens holder can be fixed to the patient's eye.

[0040] The foregoing relates to embodiments of the disclosure, but other and further embodiments of the disclosure can be devised without departing from the basic scope of the disclosure, the scope of which is determined by the claims set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A lens holder for ophthalmic procedures, a rim configured to hold a detachable lens, a flange coupled to the rim, the flange including a first surface configured to be disposed on the ocular surface of an eye and an opposite second surface, comprising: the flange includes one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flange, the one or more conjunctiva capture features are configured to be locked to one or more portions of the conjunctiva of the eye, a lens holder.

2. The lens holder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features is a V-shaped slot.

3. The lens holder according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features extends to a side surface of the flange.

4. The lens holder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features includes a plurality of triangular extensions providing a central opening configured to draw the one or more portions of the conjunctiva in a proximal direction.

5. the flange includes a ring portion and a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the ring portion, The lens holder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features is provided on one of the plurality of tabs.

6. A surgical contact lens for ophthalmic procedures, a rim, a lens disposed within the rim, a flange coupled to the rim, the flange including a first surface configured to be disposed on the ocular surface of an eye and an opposite second surface, comprising: the flange includes one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flange, the one or more conjunctiva capture features are configured to be locked to one or more portions of the conjunctiva of the eye, a surgical contact lens.

7. The surgical contact lens according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features is a V-shaped slot.

8. The surgical contact lens according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features extends to a side surface of the flange.

9. the flange includes a ring portion and a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the ring portion, The surgical contact lens according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features extends through one of the plurality of tabs.

10. The surgical contact lens according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features includes a plurality of triangular extensions that provide an opening capable of drawing the one or more portions of the conjunctiva in a proximal direction.

11. The surgical contact lens according to claim 6, wherein the lens is detachable.

12. A method of fixing a contact lens holder to an eye, comprising: placing the lens holder on the ocular surface of the eye, the lens holder comprising: a first surface that contacts the eye and a second surface on the opposite side; one or more conjunctiva capture features extending from the first surface to the second surface; and drawing one or more portions of the conjunctiva of the eye into at least one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features. A method comprising:

13. placing a first lens within the lens holder; replacing the first lens with a second lens; The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising releasing the one or more portions of the conjunctiva after a corresponding one of the one or more conjunctiva capture features has been locked to the one or more portions of the conjunctiva.

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